Main Street Main Streets Then and Now LS10147 By Aly Fox for GEOL196

 Main streets, simply, are the principle streets in a town. They are often called “Main Street”, though every town’s main streets are different. LS02306_001 LS02580 Main Street, Barton 1903 Main Street, St. Albans 2004 This is a journey through the eyes of Vermont’s Main Streets. It will show the changes Vermont has gone through, as a result of both humans and nature.

Hardwick, then and now A postcard from 1905A photograph 100 years later LS02394_000, LS02394_001

If there was not a town sign, a Main Street was an indicator of settlement. St. Johnsbury- corner of Main and East, 1880 Same corner, 2005 LS04699_000,001

What makes a “principle” street? Classically, Main Streets were the commercial centers. That is still the case today- on any of the “main drags” in Vermont you can find some combination of stores and eateries. Main Street, St. Johnsbury, 2006 LS05973_001

As populations grew, towns grew and changed, some Main Streets have been taken over by other main streets- such as Church St. in Burlington, the pedestrian commercial zenith. Church Street, LS02893_000 Church Street, 2004 LS02893_001

Disasters have been known to strike Vermont. Both natural and man made forces have caused some towns to rebuild their main streets. Take Bristol, for example- in 1924 a fire struck Main Street. Notice the gutted buildings post-fire. LS08201

The 1927 flood also caused damage to many towns LS02444

LS11357 Main Street, Montpelier, 1927

Flooded Main Street, Claredon 1927 Main Street, Richford, 1927 These two photos, and the previous two photos, show serious damage to the main thoroughfares in various Vermont towns. A drive through any of these towns today show how the towns have been rebuilt. LS00260 LS02472

The introduction of cars made Main Streets wider Photos from 1914 and 2000 in Morgan, Vermont. LS00012_000 LS00012_001 Notice the changes!

In 1916, there were 10,000 cars driving in America- on unpaved roads. The technology of pavement existed, and just needed some time to make its way up to Vermont. LS07734 A car on a dirt road at a toll gate, Winhall 1916.

Today, our Main Streets are changing and losing prominence due to sprawl LS01465_001 Aerial view of Colchester, 2004

Mega-shopping centers, such as the one in Williston, take away business from local efforts. This is a major cause of change in our small towns. mia/ elpepieco_2_I_SCO.jpg Williston, 1925Williston, today LS10279

Preservation efforts are being made to keep our Main Streets in tact Springfield, today LS07386_001 Institutions like Vermont Division for Historic Preservation and the Main Street Center (national) are working towards preserving the historic Main Streets in Vermont.

The landscape of Vermont has changed drastically since the land was settled. The biggest impact has been the expansion of towns and cities. Vermont’s main streets are the hallmarks of the many small towns found within. The towns will continue to evolve as the landscape does as well. LS00158_000 LS00158_001 Main Street, Brattleboro 1913 Main Street, Brattleboro 2000

Main Street, Wallingford 1914 References 1)“History of Concrete Pavements”. Image on Slide 14 courtesy of: _SCO.jpg Duany, A. et al. Suburban Nation. New York. North Point Press “Main Streets” and “Vermont”. Articles courtesy of Wikipedia.com National Trust Main Street Center. Vermont Division for Historic Preservation. LS07606